Grotesque - In The Embrace Of Evil - Pic-LP

Absolute cult Swedish blackened death metal classic re-issue! From their ashes rose At The Gates! The songs on this release are from several different periods in the band’s evolution, so the sound can vary quite drastically. Earlier Grotesque songs really bring to mind Sepultura’s "Bestial Devastation" in terms of production and playing, with quite a few mistakes that are easily overlooked in favour of the absolutely badass rawness of this album. The songs are rather technical, both in terms of structure and riffing, which weave asphyxiating tentacles around your neck and drag you into this nightmarish journey. "Angels Blood" is an especially long, epic number with quite a few changes of tempo and mood, and is counterbalanced by short, intense songs like "Spawn of Azathoth" and "Torn from the Cross", both of which feature sweltering, churning riffs. Tomas Lindberg's performance isn't too deathly, nor screechy, but a perfect, schizoid mix of the two, barking out a incessant malevolent lyrics to terrorize you.

Lets call this proto-death metal, because it’s not quite the death metal you normally associate with Sweden, and has a lot of totally kick as thrash riffs. Imagine if Morbid Angel had taken a different, slightly slower route after "Abominations of Desolation", and inserted a bit of early Sepultura and Sodom into their mix! This is evil, twisted death metal, the way it is supposed to be done, and is absolutely mandatory for all fans of Scandinavian metal in general.